Archive for May, 2013

ShareRevelation 11:15-19 In Revelation 11, St. John continues his theme of the destruction of the Old Covenant and the birth of the New Covenant. The Mystery of God has been accomplished (or revealed), as the gospel is preached (Revelation 10:7). What is this Mystery? It is the revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. According […]

ShareRevelation 5 I wish I knew more songs. Actually, I probably know a few thousand (and probably 200 or so just from the Beatles), and at home, I’m always seizing a shard from some song I know and mutating the words weirdly to fit something one of the kids has said. They say to me, […]

Share2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 Let’s give thanks to God for His kingdom and His power and His glory revealed in us. Let’s show the world His kingdom and power and glory by leading holy, Spirit-filled, Word-filled lives! Today’s passage is an interesting one because instead of praising the Thessalonians as he has done before, Paul gives […]

ShareRomans 8:31-39 These verses at the end of Romans 8 are among the most comforting and calming in all of Scripture. But before we get to what seem like unconditional promises that St. Paul makes on behalf of Jesus Christ, we should look at the larger context of the passage. At the beginning of Romans […]

ShareActs 1:1-11 Why did Christ ascend into heaven? Out of all the important things Jesus did, it’s one of the few that we recite every week in the Creeds. But Ascension Day itself is often forgotten, sandwiched in on a Thursday (40 days after the Resurrection) and overshadowed by Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. I want […]

Share1 John 5:5-15 The word “Rogation” means “asking,” or “praying,” and the three Rogation Days (the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week) are traditionally days of special prayer, particularly for God’s blessing on the spring planting and on the land we live in. The sad fact of our existence is that while God created […]

ShareMatthew 6:24-34 “You cannot serve two masters.” You’ve heard the saying, from the old Westerns: “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.” Well, your life ain’t big enough for 2 opposing masters. You cannot serve both God and wealth, and you cannot serve both God and self. So who’s your master? Who […]

ShareMatthew 6:5-15 I love antiques and artifacts. I love going to museums and experiencing their artifacts. I feel tangibly closer to dinosaurs or mummies, to van Gogh or Van Eyck, when in a museum. I love old books and how they smell and their sturdy yellow pages and the fact that they connect me with […]

ShareHebrews 13:17-25 “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, […]

ShareHebrews 13:9-16 Ask the average American kid what his favorite food is, and he’s likely to say, “pizza.” Ask Fr. Charles what his favorite food is, and he’s likely to say the same. Actually, I do have other favorite foods. I love sautéed mushrooms, which, providentially, I discovered while consuming a pizza topped with mushrooms. […]

Parents as Pastors – The Prayer Book and the Anglican Family

Give Us This Day – Matthew

SharePossibly the Most Important Theological Work of the 20th Century Pope John Paul II’s “Man and Woman He Created Them,” popularly known as “A Theology of the Body” may be the most important theological work of the 20th century. I say this because John Paul II is not only a first-rate theologian but also because […]

ShareExcellent Analysis of Eastern Orthodox Conversions in America Amy Slagle’s “The Eastern Church in the Spiritual Marketplace” is an excellent, scholarly look at conversions to Eastern Orthodoxy in America. As an Anglican priest and professor, I’ve been interested in Eastern Orthodoxy, and especially the churches in the U.S. However, information other than that provided by […]

ShareStriking New Insights Into the Rise and Growth of Christianity I’m a big fan of Rodney Stark because his works are both scholarly and readable, as well as being well-argued, well-researched, and positively revelatory. His new book, “The Triumph of Christianity,” is similar to his earlier work, “The Rise of Christianity.” However he not only […]

ShareWise and Wonderful, Profound and Practical Marriage is clearly a troubled institution in American culture, and that includes even among American Christians. The problem is that so often Christians have accepted the world’s definitions of marriage. While many Christian books have been written on marriage, Tim Keller’s “The Meaning of Marriage” is one of the […]

ShareGood Material but Too Episodic and Superficial Albert Moehler is a Christian phenomenon. His presence for the good of God’s Kingdom seems to be everywhere, and finally he’s written a book. While I agree with almost all that Moehler has to say in “Culture Shift” I still don’t think it’s a great book. This is […]